GYMNASTICS

Boasting a roster rich in experience, coach Kathryn Shimer is expecting good things from her Sumner High gymnasts.

The squad, she said, “is looking to continue the success we had last year and…make another run at qualifying to the state competition as a team.”

Shimer has a junior-heavy team that lost just two seniors to graduation last spring. There are just three seniors on this season’s roster of 19 with 11 juniors and five freshmen.

Among the returning seniors is Emma Potts, who has qualified for the state meet the past three seasons.

The accomplished junior class includes: Madison Blanco, who placed 12th in the vault at last year’s state meet; Lindsy Hatch, a state meet veteran who is a consistent beam, vault and bars specialist; Jenna Eagle, another state meet participant and vault and floor specialist; and Morgan Devine, a consistent all-around competitor. Another junior, Bella Turchiano, is new to the team and is, according to her coach, “a talented tumbler.”

Among the freshman class, Shimer is looking for a big contribution by Taylor Holmes, who has shown her skills at the club level and will be an all-around participant for the Spartans.

The team opened its season Dec. 8 atainst Puyallup, Rogers and Bonney Lake. The squad returns to action tonight, Wednesday, against Puyallup, Capital and Olympia.

BOYS WRESTLING

Top grapplers have returned to a Spartan wrestling team that last year placed fourth at regionals and 10th at the Class 4A state meet.

Leading the way are state veterans like junior CJ Richmond, a regional champ last year who battled his way to the state meet finale, where he claimed second-place honors. Also back are junior Austin Cleland, who finished fourth at state; senior Kalel Salcedo, fifth at state; and junior Marcus Peterson, an eighth-place state finisher.

The early season saw the Spartans defeating Olympia High in dual-meet action. More recently, the SHS squad headed to Portland, Oregon, for the Rose City Championships.